Mercedes GLC Coupé Concept Comes to Shanghai

At the Shanghai Motor Show Mercedes-Benz have revealed the GLC Coupé Concept. This Coupé version furthers the company’s range of vehicles with the blend of SUV practicality and emotive coupé styling. This mixture was shown with the larger GLE Coupé a few months ago which was well received and according to Mercedes this more compact addition to the family isn’t far from coming off the production line. This Concept carries with it a very striking design – the powerful twin-blade grille, quad exhausts and a flowing body line offers a sophisticated and purposeful look which coupé styling offers. In contrast to this, front and rear protection, huge 21-inch wheels and higher ground clearance seemingly point towards a car which can hold it’s own when the going gets tough.

The Mercedes GLC Coupé Concept is expected to go right up against the BMW X4, which on the surface seem to be fairly similar. Aesthetically they are certainly comparable, with each company’s car having their own bespoke design cues but there aren’t any massive differences. The X4 does stand slightly taller than the GLC Coupé meaning more head room, but the X4 falls 2cm shorter than the Mercedes in terms of wheel base which is all important for those backseat passengers. All square so far then. However, power in the Mercedes comes from the V6 petrol engine you’ll find in the C450 AMG, which produces 362bhp and 520 Nm of torque and will be linked up to the new 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission. The GLC Coupé also benefits from the 4MATIC four-wheel drive system for improved off-road capabilities and traction. Although there hasn’t been any official talk of what the rest of the engine line-up will consist off, we would expect petrol and diesel engines with both four and six cylinder engines and of course a ridiculous V8 AMG GLC 63 model. Conversely, the X4 is only available with diesel engines which has been a complaint by many, so we will have to wait and see if a X4M is coming any time soon.

The starting price is yet to be revealed as well, but with the X4 starting at £36,895 and the likes of the Range Rover Evoque being even less, we would expect the GLC Coupé Concept to be hitting our shelves with a price tag less than £40,000.